merrion street

The Minister with Responsibility for Defence, Mr. Paul Kehoe, T.D., today (Friday 26 January 2018) attended the Commissioning Ceremony of the 93rd Army Cadet Class at the Defence Forces Training Centre in the Curragh Camp, County Kildare. The Minister was welcomed to the Camp by the Chief of Staff, Vice Admiral Mark Mellett.

Addressing the 70 newly commissioned Permanent Defence Force officers, the Minister said “I wish to offer my warmest congratulations to all of you for the commitment you are making to the State. All of you, together with your families and friends can be justifiably proud of your achievement.”

Minister Kehoe also restated that “the Government is committed to maintaining, and has provided the budget for, a Permanent Defence Force establishment of 9,500 personnel.  In 2016, because of that commitment, it was decided to increase the number of cadets being inducted.  As a result of that decision the 93rd Cadet Class was one of the largest single intakes of Cadets into the Defence Forces and its members will play their part in the ongoing modernisation and further development of the Defence Forces.”

Minister Kehoe paid tribute to the families and friends of the members of the 93rd Cadet Class for their essential support and encouragement and also paid tribute to the“the dedication and commitment” of the members of the Defence Forces Cadet School “who have moulded these young men and women into fine young officers over some fifteen months of training.”

The Minister congratulated the eight Cadets from the Armed Forces of Malta who received Certificates of Graduation from the Cadet School.